The Rise and Fall of an Open Source Project: A Case Study

Abstract

The majority of open source projects fail. This chapter presents one such project as a case study, written from the perspective of the sole developer. It charts the various stages of development, from initial motivation and enthusiasm through the later stages of apathy and decline. It deals with many of the problems encountered by a sole developer, and the various approaches undertaken to maintain development momentum. This chapter provides anecdotal evidence as opposed to statistical analysis, giving an individual’s perspective on the development life cycle of an open source project, illustrating real world barriers to development and the typical issues that can stall a project.